9pm SHOPLIFTERS

Wednesday, March 13 at 9pm

Japan
Directed by Hirokazu Koreeda
Japanese with English subtitles
Crime/Drama
121 minutes
PG

Out-of-work Osamu and Shota, a young boy, spend much of their day shoplifting to subsidize their ragtag group’s low-income existence in Tokyo. Their routine is derailed when they discover a neighbourhood girl, Yuri, locked out, in need, and displaying symptoms of abuse. As local authorities begin the hunt for the missing girl, Osamu and Shota share their thieving ways with her and welcome her into their “family.” However, the group is soon plunged into even more difficulty when an incident forces hidden secrets out into the open.

Quotes:
“OVERFLOWING WITH WARMTH WITHOUT LURCHING INTO SENTIMENTALITY, EMOTIONAL BUT NEVER MANIPULATIVE, “SHOPLIFTERS” ASKS WHAT MAKES A FAMILY, AND HOW AN UNORTHODOX ONE CAN SURVIVE WITHIN THE STRUCTURES OF SOCIETY.”
- Sarah Cartland, Caution Spoilers

“IT’S AN EERILY MOVING PIECE, MASTERFULLY BLURRING THE DIVIDE BETWEEN THE UNFORGIVABLE AND UNDERSTANDABLE, FINDING TENDERNESS IN THE BLEAKEST AND MOST TRAUMATIC OF CIRCUMSTANCES.”
- Mark Kermode, Observer (UK)